IPL 2024: PBKS Script History at Eden Gardens: Largest Chase, Most Sixes – A Night to Remember
Punjab Kings recorded a resounding 8-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024 match played at Eden Gardens on Friday. PBKS chased down a target of 262 with eight balls to spare as Jonny Bairstow starred with an unbeaten ton to take the visitors over the finish line. Being the most successful run chase in the history of T20 cricket, this match was significant for multiple reasons. The game also saw a record 42 sixes in both innings, an unprecedented feat in the history of the shortest format of the game. South Africa’s 259-run chase against West Indies in 2023, while the maximum runs scored in Friday’s game surpassed the one between SRH and MI a few weeks ago.
Highest score in T20 run chase
262/2 – PBKS vs KKR, Kolkata, IPL 2024
262/7 – RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru, IPL 2024
259/4 – South Africa v West Indies, Centurion, 2023
254/3 – Middlesex v Surrey, The Oval, T20 Blast 2023
253/8 – Quetta Gladiators vs Multan Sultans, Rawalpindi, PSL 2023
Most sixes in an IPL innings
24 – PBKS vs KKR, Kolkata, 2024
22 – SRH vs RCB, Bengaluru, 2024
22 – SRH vs DC, Delhi, 2024
21 – RCB vs PWI, Bengaluru, 2013
Punjab also broke the record for most sixes in a single innings as they hit 24 maximum sixes outside the park led by Bairstow’s contribution of 108 runs, which included 9 sixes.
Most sixes in a men’s T20 match
42 – KKR vs PBKS, Kolkata, IPL 2024
38 – SRH vs MI, Hyderabad, IPL 2024
38 – RCB vs SRH, Bengaluru, IPL 2024
37 – Balkh Legends vs Kabul Zawanan, Sharjah, APL 2018/19
37 – SKNP vs JT, Basseterre, CPL 2019
PBKS stand-in skipper Sam Curran put the hosts in to bat first after winning the toss and KKR were offered an electric start by Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, who put together a 138-run opening stand before the Windies all-rounder was scalped by Rahul. Chahar in 71 runs.
Salt scored 75 before being bowled by Curran’s Jaffa, while Venkatesh Iyer’s 39, Andre Russell’s 24 and skipper Shreyas Iyer’s 28 contributed as the home team posted a mammoth total of 261.
PBKS started their chase on a positive note as Prabhasimran reached his half-century in less than 20 balls, while Bairstow took his time to settle. When the Indian opener was run out, Bairstow took the initiative and went after KKR. The bowling attack smashed them all around the park.
Riley Rousseau added 26 runs before being scalped by Narine, but an unbroken 84-run partnership between Shashank Singh, who was promoted up the order, and centurion Bairstow helped PBKS cross the line with 8 balls to spare.
